Physical Exam

TPR, Auscultation, Palpation

Tempurature, pulse, respiration

All hospitalized PT should have vitals monitered at least once per day, more depending on health status

normal dog and cat 101.5 +/- a degree

excitement can cause a slightly elevated temperature

104 degrees and above

• systemic disease(bacterial infection, inflammation)
• Neurological injury (cerebral edema, brain tumor, tumors)
• Heat stroke

• Increased tissue o2 requirement
• vasodialation to release body heat
• cardiac workload increases
• Damage to vascular cells leading to dissemiated intravascular coagulation

• Cool with fans or cool compresses
• Avoid cold or ice, can caise vasoconstriction
• IV fluid threapy with cool liquids
• Cool water enemas

99 degrees or less

• certain drugs, such as anesthesia
• very young puppies and kittens, less then one month old
• Environmental

• reduced metabolic rate
• decreased o2 consumption
• decreased abilitly of hemoglobin to release o2 to tissues
• peripheral vasoconstriction
• hypotension
• decreased GI mobility

• warm blankets
• warm water bottles
• heating lamp
• -moniter closely for burns
• Circulating warm water blankets
• -less chance of accidental burns
• warmed IV fliuds

• Taken from and Artery, not a vein
• Femoral artery is best for dogs and cats
• --medial aspect of thigh, proximal to stifle
• count beats for 15 sec, then multiply by 4 to get BPM

140-240 BPM

• less then 30 lbs 160-180 BPM
• more then 30 lbs 60-160 BPM

weak, could be due to shock or cardiapulmonary disease

strong, could be due to stress, pain, or cardiopulmonary disease

pulse slower then normal

can lead to decreased carsiac output which can lead to tissue hypoxia, organ failure, and death

• hypothermia
• drugs
• metabolic disorders such as hypothyroidism

• rate is faster then normal
• can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure

• pain
• shock
• stress
• excitement
• fever
• drugs

watch the chest for expansion and contractions

best to do before procedure while animal is still calm

note if labored breathing or panting

20-30 BPM/RPM

15-30 BPM/RPM

shallow rapid breathing

pain, hyperthermia, stress

minimize stress, give oxygen, treat shock

upper airway obstruction-sedations, palpate, radiographs, remove obstruction

Pnemothorax-thorocentesis

Pulmonary disease- give oxygen, fluid therapy for dehydration

difficult breathing

• upper airway disease
• lower airway disease
• Restrictive airway disease

Gingival, Conjunctical

• Pink-Normal
• Cyanotic- BLue
• Yellow- Jaundice
• Pale/White- shock or hemhorrage

apply index finger and release

should take 1-2 seconds to return to normal

• more then 2 seconds
• cardiac disease
• shock
• dehydration

listening with Stethascope to different body cavity sounds

cardiovascular and repritory

• Bell-used for bowel sounds
• Diaphragm- used to listen to heart

place stethoscope on left side of chest and below elbow

• abnormal blood flow through heart
• cardiac disease

abnormal rhythm of heart beat

• auscultation of ECG
• may be due to abnormal conduction of energy throughout the heart

• Irregularity is related to respiratory cycle
• speeds up in inspiration and slows down durin expiration
• normal in dogs only

when pulse and heart rate do not match when taken simultaneously

normal lung sounds: nothing, or slight air movement, includes both sides of the chest cavity and trachea

wheezing sound on inspiration due to obstruction of the trachea

• sounds like cellophane cracking
• usually hear with pneumonia or pulmonary edema

stridor, crackles and rales

• application of touch
• takes lots of practice

check for lumps and bumps

redness, discharge, pupil size..are they the same

• check pinna for inflammation
• discharge, redness, odor...yeast may smell fruity
• signs of mites, fleas, or hematoma

• any discharge
• clear or purulent is sign of infection

tumors or sores, tongue, gums, check for calculus on teeth

lymph nodes

• palpable lymph nodes
• -mandibular (behind jaw, grape to pea sized)
• -prescapular (cranial dorsal to shoulder, pea to grape)
• -popliteal (in fat pad caudel to stifle)

auxillary and inguinal not palable unless enlarged

• each leg and tail
• digets and in between
• check nails

• lumps or bumps on spine?
• hair quality
• skin quality
• external parasites

check for tenderness, check bladder

penis should be extruded from prepuce

females: check vulva for redness, discharge